Portable partitions



D. S. HARRIS PORTABLE PARTITIONS July 8, 1969 Filed July 27, 1967 Sheetof 2 IN VE/V TOR DONALD S. HARRIS SheetiofZ July 8, 1969 D. s. HARRISPORTABLE PARTITIONS Filed July 27, 1967 FlG-Q 100 16 as 62 as FIG --12FIG-1O 88 86 87846 United States Patent 7 3,453,790 PORTABLE PARTITIONSDonald S. Harris, New Castle, Ind., assignor to New Castle Products,Inc., New Castle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed July 27, 1967,Ser. No. 656,575 Int. Cl. E04b 2/74; E0411 3/02; Ed 15/06 US. Cl. 521439 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A partition formed with a series ofinterfitting portable panels extending between a rigid jamb and amovable jamb located on opposing walls, wherein each panel includes aset of rollers mounted on its lower end portion. A support member isthreadably connected to the center of the lower end portion of the panelfor supporting the panel in a raised vertical position with the upperedge portion of the panel engaging the ceiling and a skirt member isslidably mounted on the lower edge portion of each panel and adapted tobe lowered, after the panel is set in position and raised, for coveringthe rollers and support member and forming a seal with the floor.

Background of the invention The term portable partition commonly refersto a series of removable panels which are not supported, suspended orguided by a track, and which are commonly transported from a storagearea to a site where a room divider is desired and is set in verticalposition, and in edge-to-edge alignment forming a temporary closure Wallwithin the room. Usually each panel making up the partition is providedwith a slidable head member which is extended upwardly either by amechanical or a pneumatic mechanism to engage the ceiling, so that thepanel is thus self-supported between the ceiling and the floor.

It is desirable to construct the panels as wide as possible to minimizethe number of panels required for forming a wall of predetermined size.On the other hand, in order to move the panels, each partition must berelatively narrow and of light weight construction. Moreover, theextendable head members do not cooperate to provide an appearance of apermanent wall.

Summary of the invention The present invention is directed to animproved portable partition in which the panels may be constructed withsubstantial width, and in which the panels are provided with supportrollers on their lower end portions for conveniently positioning afterthey have been raised to a vertical position near an adjacent panel.After the panel is placed in position, it is raised so that the upperportion of the panel forms a seal with the ceiling. The panel is securedin the raised position by an adjustable support leg, following which askirt member is lowered to form a seal with the floor and to cover therollers and support leg.

According'to a preferred construction, the panel incorporates aresilient seal extending across its upper end portion, and an adjustableleg on the order of a screw jack mounted at the center of the lower endportion. A generally U-shaped skirt member is slidably mounted on thelower end portion of the panel, forming a kick plate on each side of thepanel. The skirt member is adapted to be lowered, after the panel hasbeen raised by means of a lever, so that resilient seals mounted on thebottom of the kick plates engage the floor. The kick plates provide theappearance of a baseboard on a permanent wall.

3,453,790 Patented July 8, 1969 Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1is a perspective view of a. temporary Wall formed by a series ofportable panels constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a typical erected partition with lowerportions broken away to show the relative positions of internalcomponents;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2with the center portion of the panel broken away;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken generally on the line44 of FIG. 2 with the center portion of the partition broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower portion of the panelshown in the rolling position; 1

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken generally on the line 66of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 7-7 of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 8-8 of FIG.5;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through one of the kick plateseals taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich a panel is raised and secured in its raised position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken generally on the line11-11 of FIG. 1 and showing the normal position of the movable jambbefore the final panel is set in position; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the last two panels of thepartition and illustrating how the final panel is installed.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a wallclosure partition 10 is formed of a series of panels 15 which are shownas assembled and erected in generally coplanar relation to each other toform a temporary wall extending across a prepared opening in a room. Thepartition thus extends between a floor 16 and a ceiling 18 and betweenside walls 19 and 20 on which are mounted corresponding jamb members 22and 24. Each of the partition panels 15 is of similar construction andis formed with a central panel section 25, the specific construction ofwhich forms no part of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3,however, the panel sections 25 incorporate upper and lower Woodenhorizontal rails 26 and 27, respectively, which are rigidly connected byvertical edge stiles 28 (FIG. 4) to form an essentially hollowrectangular framed construction. A sheet 30 of decorative wallboard ismounted on each side of the frame rails and stiles, and a suitable sounddeadening material, such as expanded polystyrene or fiberglass batting,is spaced between the sheets 30 and frame members 26-28.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a two-piece trim strip 35, preferably formedas aluminum extrusions, extends along each vertical edge of each panel15. Each trime strip includes a first section 36 having a verticallyextending groove 37 in which is mounted a strip 38 of resilientsponge-like material. The first section 36 partially overlaps a secondsection 40 having a vertically extending rib 41. Both sections 36 and 40are secured at the overlapped portions to the stile 28 by a series ofscrews 42.

As shown in FIG. 4, the jamb strip member 22 is mount ed on the wall 19with seal strip 43 of resilient sponge-like material and resembles avertical edge portion of a partition in that it includes a verticalframe member 44, decorative side sheets 45 and the vertical trim strip35. However, the relative positions of the sections 36 and 40 have beenreversed so that, when two panels, or one panel and one jamb member 22are positioned in aligned relation, the interfitting relationship of theribs 41 and resilient strips 38 form an air and sound tight seal betweenadjacent panels and between the jamb members.

Referring to FIG. 3, a three-piece astragal 50, preferably of aluminum,has a central section 51 mounted on the upper end edge of each panel 15by a series of screws 52 and receives a seal strip 53 of resilientsponge-like material on its upper surface. Corner moldings 54 underliethe central section 51 and overlap the upper edges of the sheets 30.While the seal strip 53 may engage the ceiling 18 directly, an invertedchannel 56 may be mounted on the ceiling between the side walls 19 and20 and secured by a series of screws 57 for receiving the upper endportion of each panel 15 to assist in positioning the panels instraight, coplanar alignment as they are erected.

Referring to FIGS. 2, and 6, a pair of inverted U-shaped brackets 60 aremounted in spaced apart relation on the lower surface of the bottom rail27 by screws 61 and are positioned adjacent the lower corners of thepanel 15. Each bracket 60 supports a roller 62 rotatably mounted on ashaft 63. The arrangement accordingly provides a pair of roller supportsfor each panel which engage the floor, as shown in FIG. 5, for ease ofpositioning the panels.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, a sleeve 65 having internal threads ismounted within a vertically extending bore 66 formed within the lowerrail 27 and is located substantially on the vertical centerline of thepanel 15. The sleeve 65 is retained by a plate 68 secured to the lowersurface of the frame member 27 by screws 69. A support leg 75 includes athreaded rod 76 received within the sleeve 65 and an elongated foot pad78 is secured to the lower end portion of the rod 76 by a hub 79.

An elongated skirt assembly indicated generally at 85, is slidablymounted on the lower end portion of each panel 15 and includes a pair ofelongated blocks 86 (FIG. 6) each having a fiat bottom surface 87 andbeveled lower corners 88. The blocks 86 are spaced on opposite sides ofthe support leg 75 and are connected together by a plate 90 (FIGS. 5 and8) positioned above the hub 79. The plate 90 is formed with a hole 91for receiving the rod 76 therethrough.

A pair of elongated rigid channels 95 extend along oppositecorresponding sides of the blocks 86 and are secured with screws 96 withthe flanges thereof extending outwardly away from the blocks 86. Eachchannel 95 has a lower flange 98 which supports the lower edge of acorresponding kick plate 100. The plate 100 is rigidly secured to thechannels 95 by a series of screws 102 extending through aligned holesformed within the corresponding channels 95 and into spacer rods 101(FIG. 7).

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the channels 95 are preferably formed of extrudedaluminum and are constructed with a slightly narrower upper flange 103as compared to the lower flange so that the kick plates 100 are spacedin slightly tapered relation with the upper edge portions of the kickplates 100 pressed slightly against the outer surfaces of the decorativesheets 30 forming the sides of the panel 15. A longitudinally extendingrecessed groove 105 is formed within the lower flange 98 of each channel95 for retaining an elongated flexible floor seal 106 having an invertedV-shaped cross-sectional configuration. When the foot is in the raisedposition shown in FIG. 5, the hub 79 engages the plate 90 and retainsthe kick plate assembly 85 in the raised position, as shown in FIG. 8,with the seals 106 just clearing the floor 16. Leaf-like edge seals 107are carried on the ends of each plate 100 (FIG. 9) to engage thecorresponding seal on the adjacent panel when the panels are erected.

Referring to FIG. 11, the movable jamb member 24 which receives the lastor final panel 15, includes a housing 110 which extends between thefloor 16 and ceiling 18 and has a U-shaped cross-sectional configurationformed by generally parallel spaced side walls each including anextruded aluminum trim strip 112 having a forward lip 113 receiving adecorative sheet 114. The strips 112 are secured to correspondingflanges of a channel 115 by screws 116. Trim strips 118 are connected tothe channel 115 by screws 119 for retaining the side panels 114 and areheld in contact with the wall 20 by a series of vertically spaced screws120 extending through the channel 115 and sponge-like seal strip 121.

A series of rectangular blocks of resilient material, such as openpolyurethane foam, is mounted within the housing 110. Each such block125 is secured to the channel member 115 by a suitable adhesive. Theseries of vertically spaced blocks 125 may be replaced by a continuousblock extending between the floor and the ceiling, if desired. Avertically extending plate 126 adjoins on the corresponding forwardfaces of the blocks 125 and supports a vertically extending face member128 which is secured by a series of screws 129.

The face member 128 is provided with a vertically extending rib 130 andgroove 132 in which is secured a strip 133 of resilient sponge materialfor receiving the corresponding rib 41 and resilient strip 38 to form aseal with the final partition 15. The face member 128 also includes apair of vertically extending slots 135 for retaining corresponding wiperseals 136 made of a flexible vinyl material. The seals 136 engage theinner surface of the trim strips 112 and slide thereon when acompressing force is exerted against the face member 128 during thepositioning of the final panel 15.

The blocks 125 of elastomeric material form spring means supporting theface member 128 and resisting movement of the same toward the adjacentwall.

To install a series of panels 15 constructed in accordance with theinvention in aligned edge-to-edge relation between the jambs 22 and 24,the first panel 15 is taken from the storage area and is positioneddirectly under the guide channel 56 mounted on the ceiling 18 with itstrim strip 35 engaging the corresponding trim strip mounted on the jambmember 22 as shown in FIG. 4.

The first panel 15 is elevated with the use of a lifting lever 140having an elongated handle 141 rigidly connected to the edge portion ofa flat rectangular base 142 having a substantial width to thicknessratio. As shown in FIG. 10, the lever is used by placing the base 142under the block 86 furthest from the same strip 22 after which the leveris tilted toward the jamb strip to raise the panel 15 until theresilient strip 54 carried by the top trim strip 50 engages theunderneath surface of the guide channel 56 as shown in FIG. 3.

While the partition is supported in its raised position by the lever140, with the rollers 62 lifted off of the floor 16, the support leg 75is lowered by rotating the same so that the foot pad 78 engages thefloor 16 and thereby holds the panel firmly against the ceiling 18. Whenthe lever 1 40 is removed, the weight of the skirt assembly 85 isusually suflicient to cause it to slide downwardly on the lower endportion of the panel 25 until the spaced blocks 86 and seals 106 engagethe floor 16, as shown in FIG. 6. If the assembly 85 remains in theraised position, it can be readily lowered by pushing downwardly on oneof the kick plates 100.

The remaining panels 15 are successively installed in the same manner asthe first panel. The final panel 15, however, is first pressed againstthe face member 128 (FIG. 11) causing the face member 128 to moveinwardly within the housing 110 against the force exerted by theresilient blocks 125. This panel is then pivoted into an alignedposition (FIG. 12) after which the panel is raised by the lever 140 toform a seal with the ceiling 18 and the skirt assembly is lowered in thesame manner as of the previously installed panels 15.

To remove the partition formed by the panels 15, the above procedure isreversed. That is, the end panel 15 adjacent the jamb member 24 is firstremoved by raising its skirt assembly 85 with the lever 140 andreleasing the load on the leg 75 so that the leg may be screwed upwardlyinto the sleeve 65. This also retains the assembly 85 in its raisedposition. The end panel 15 is then lowered by the lever 1140 to releasethe upper edge portion of the panel from the guide channel 45 afterwhich the end panel is pressed against the face member 128 to compressthe resilient blocks 125 and thereby release the sealing engagement withthe adjacent panel. The remaining panels 15 are then successivelyremoved and taken to the storage are-a in the same manner.

From the drawings and the above description it can be seen that atemporary wall constructed by a series of portable panels and jambmembers constructed in accordance with the invention provides severaldesirable features and advantages. For example, by providing each panel15 with a set of rollers 62, a panel of relatively rigid constructionand having substantial width can be conveniently positioned nearadjacent panels 15 and jambs 22 and 24.

I claim:

1. An improved portable partition comprising a generally flatrectangular panel having upper and lower end portions, said paneladapted to be set in vertical position within a room and then raiseduntil said upper end portion is positioned against the ceiling to form aclosure therewith, a support leg mounted on said lower end portion ofsaid pane], means for adjustably positioning said support leg forlowering said leg to engage the floor after said panel is raised andthereby support said panel in said raised position, a pair of skirtmembers slidably mounted on the opposite sides of said lower end portionof said panel and adapted to be moved downwardly to a position adjacentthe floor after said panel is raised and said support leg is lowered toprovide a cover for said leg and a closure with the floor, means forretaining said skirt members on said panel when said partition is moved,and means connecting said skirt members to provide simultaneous movementas a unit to simplify installing and removing of said partition.

2. A portable partition as defined in claim 1 including a set ofrollers, and bracket means rigidly secured to said lower end portion ofsaid panel for supporting said rollers in fixed alignment to provide arolling support for conveniently positioning said panel when saidsupport leg and said skirt members are raised.

3. A portable partition as defined in claim 1 including an elongatedflexible seal mounted on said connecting means and engageable with thefloor when said skirt members are moved downwardly on said panel.

4. A portable partition as defined in claim 1 wherein said connectingmeans includes a set of spaced elongated blocks forming spacers betweensaid skirt members, a plate connecting said blocks, and means defining ahole within said plate for receiving said support leg.

5. A portable partition as defined in claim 1 wherein said support legcomprises a threaded rod projecting upwardly from a foot pad, threadedsleeve means mounted on said lower end portion of said panelsubstantially at the vertical centerline of said panel and receivingsaid rod, and means connected to said skirt members and engageable bysaid foot pad for retaining said skirt members in a raised position onsaid panel when said support leg is retracted.

6. A portable partition as defined in claim 1 in combination with anelongated jamb member including a housing adapted to be mounted on awall and having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, aface member movable within said housing, and resilient elastomeric blockmeans spaced within said housing behind said face member and adapted tobe compressed when :a panel s pressed against said face member forproducing a sealing force against a vertical edge of said panel.

7. In a wall closure partition including a plurality of rigid panelspositionable into generally aligned relation between a set of jambposts, the improvement comprising a first relatively fixed verticalsupport housing adapted to be mounted on a wall, a movable jamb platehaving an exposed front surface for engagement by the vertical edge ofan adjacent said panel, means guiding said plate for translatorymovement within said housing in a direction generally parallel to theplane defined by said panels, means in said housing forming a positivestop resisting movement of said plate toward. said panels, and at leastone elastomeric block interposed between said movable jamb plate andsaid housing for resiliently urging said plate toward said stop;

8. The partition of claim 7 wherein said housing includes vertical sideplates, and vertically extending seals mounted on said jamb plate andslidably engaging said side plates.

9. The partition of claim 7 in which said elastomeric 1block comprises ablock of polyurethane foam material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,469 3/1929 Swanson 52-2382,078,620 4/1937 Venzie 52238 X 2,945,568 7/ 1960 Chasteney et a1.52--122 3,141,206 7/1964 Stephens 52403 X 3,305,983 2/1967 Bus 52403 X3,335,532 8/1967 Greenbie 52-122 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,352,778 1/ 1964France.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52-122, 238, 241 l

